Lack of social distancing leads to rise in COVID-19 cases

The number of COVID-19 cases in Suriname jumped to 122 last weekend. Reports indicate that most of the infections are the result of direct contact which means that people are not sticking to social distancing. Health officials have repeatedly made it clear that people must remain at a distance of 2 meters from each other at all times. “Overall we see that the infections happened through droplets,” said Cleopatra Jessurun, director at the Health Ministry.

When people do not stick to social distancing, the droplets that are released when an infected person coughs, end up on their bodies. The virus then enters the body via the mouth, eyes and nose. Another way that people can get infected is via contamination. This was the case in a store in Albina. The store ‘produced’ a cluster of infections and is being considered the source of a number of infections. Meanwhile health officials have tracked the route of the virus on Surinamese territory. The Code Red phase has been activated for the entire Surinamese territory but there is a clear line from Albina to Paramaribo, Brownsweg and the villages Klaaskreek and Nyun Jacobkondre. Health workers and security agents are in the area and conducted many tests and several people tested positive. Some people already showed symptoms before being tested.